Answers (2)

Don't give her a laxative until a doctor sees her. This isn't a bowel problem its a behavioral problem and the doc may have a better idea. You don't want to get a child in the habit of taking laxatives. You could use glycerin suppositories to lubricate it so she can move it.

Does she hold it all day at home? What time of day is her usual time when she is not at school? Is she embarassed to do it at school? Do they give her adequate time privately to try? Are they able to provide a discrete way for her to tell them that she needs to go? I know this question was posted in Oct, and it is Feb, so I hope you have found answers to these and she no longer has the problem. I would agree that if she has no problems at home, that there is something going on to cause her to shy away from going at school. And face it, wouldn't we all rather be at home? Talking with her about this, on her level is important. Being up front and direct with her is good... set the stage that she can talk with you about ANYTHING. With my kids, I always embarassed them, but they knew that Nothing would be out of bounds for them to come to me and ask.

When my kids were small and learning, I bought kid books on poop that they could read while sitting on the toilet. Teaching kids that if you eat you poop, being willing to talk about it yourself, not minding the smell, teaching them that the color and consistency of poop tells a lot about how their body is doing--- all of these things are good to teach your child. And it is ok to start young.

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